Captain Francis Collier Draper was born 3 March 1937 in Toronto, son of William Henry Draper, Solicitor General, Chief Justice and head of the Ontario government for some years, and Augusta White.

Draper was educated at Upper Canada College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

Francis married twice, first to Mary Catherine Baines (died 1872) the daughter of Thomas Baines, Secretary of the Clergy Corporation, and had a child, Mary Augusta Catherine Draper. His second wife was Elsie, widow of Henry Routh. There were no children of the second marriage.

He was called to the bar in 1867.  Draper was an active sportsman. He was also a freemason and served as registrar of the provincial grand lodge.

Draper became Police Chief of Toronto on 16 January 1874. In October 1975 he called out The Queen’s Own Rifles to provide aid to the civil power during the “Pilgrimage Riots” although they remained on stand-by and in the end were not needed. In May 1881 he was elected the first president of the newly formed Chief Constables Association of Canada. He continued in Chief Constable role for 12 years resigning only due to ill health.

He died 25 July 1894 and is likely buried in St James Cemetery, Toronto.

Service Record

• 10 Apr 1863 – Taken on as Captain
• March 23rd, 1866- Retired
• 1866 – Command of the Upper Canada College Company which was attached to the The Queen’s Own Rifles
• 1874 – Resigned Commission to become chief constable.